Can depalletizing machine



June 8, 1965 E. E. JEREMIAH 9 CAN DEPALLETIZING MACHINE Filed June 28,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Earl E. Jeremiah :Iune 8, 1965 w E. E.JEREMIAH 3,187,909

CAN DEPALLETIZING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Shei 2 Earl EJeremiah United States Patent 3,187,909 CAN DEPALLETIZING MACHINE EarlE. Jeremiah, Los Altos, Caliil, assignor to National Can Corporation,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1962, Ser. No.206,090 1 Claim. (Cl. 2148.5)

This invention relates to a new and improved machine for removing cansfrom pallets. At the present, transportation of cans on pallets isbecoming increasingly popular. An ordinary pallet such as that used inconjunction with fork-lift trucks is covered with a layer of cans havingtheir axes upright an a spacer consisting of a sheet of cardboard or thelike is placed over the bottornmost layer. Thereupon, succeeding layersof cans are superimposed until the desired height is reached. A coveringof cardboard or paper or the like is applied around the cans on thepallet to protect them until the pallet is unloaded. The presentinvention relates to a machine which unloads the cans from the pallet.This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pendingapplication-Serial No. 856,- 135, filed November 30, 1959.

One of the features and advantages of the present machine is the factthat damage to the cans is avoided in that the cans are removed from thepallet, layer by layer, in a regular manner so that the likelihood ofcrushing or denting the cans i minimized. I

Another feature of the invention is the fact that it operates at a veryhigh speed so that pallets may be unloaded and fed into a can fillingmachine at a cannery at least as fast as the rate of operation of thefilling machine, and thus the speed of the cannery line is not slowed bythe use of the present invention.

A still further feature of the invention is the fact that it isadjustable for cans of different heights so that a single machine may beused to handle cans of a variety of different sizes. In this connection,a further feature of the invention is the fact that the can diameter isrelatively unimportant to the operation of the machine.

Another important advantage of the present invention is the fact thatmanual operation and hence labor costs are reduced over conventionalmethods of handling cans preparatory to filling.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a pallet of cans, prior to beingunloaded by the machine which is the subject of this invention. a

T .e present invention is used to handle cans 12 which are stacked withtheir axes vertical on a conventional pallet 11 which consists of ahorizontal platform 13 and depending legs 14 which are verticallydisposed and spaced 3,1319%? Patented June 8, 1965 The machine which isthe subject of the present invention consists of three stations, apallet transfer station A, a pallet elevating station 13, and a canunloading station C.

Preferably, the various stations of the machine are supported by acommon frame which may be moved from place to place in a cannery. Forsuch purpose, the frame consists of a horizontal base member 21, centralvertical members 22 which are interconnected at the tops by longitudinaland transverse connecting members 23 and 24, respectively, and front andrear support legs 26 and 27, respectively.

The pallet transfer station A consists of an elongated horizontallydisposed chain 31 on either side of the machine, which is supported bylongitudinal horizontal chain guide 32 which extends the length of themachine on either side thereof and the guides 32 are interconnected bytransverse connecting members 33 at intervals along the length sprockets34- and 37. Shaft 33 is driven from electric motor 38 by means ofsprockets 39 and 41 on the motor shaft and drive shaft 33, respectively,which are interconnected by chain 42. Starting and stopping of motor 38is controlled, by button 4-3 on control box 44 which is located at aconvenient position so that the operator can control the movement ofchains 31. The filled pallet 11 is positioned on top of the chains 31 atthe forward end of the machine and advanced from the loading stationindicated by reference numeral 46 into the pallet elevator station E.While the pallet is being unloaded at the can unloading station Cimmediately above the elevator station B, the next pallet in order isbeing placed in position at loading station 46. After the cans have beenremoved from the pallet at station C, the pallet is lowered by elevatorstation B back to the level of the chains 31. Thereupon, when theoperator next presses the button 43, motor 38 moves chains 31 ahead sothat the unloaded pallet is moved off the front of the machine at thesame time that the next full pallet is moving into position in theelevator station E.

Elevator station B consists of a pair of vertical sides 51 on eitherside of the machine which are spaced apart a distance slightly greaterthan the widths of the pallet. Likewise, located on either side of themachine is a pair of vertical chain guides 52, each of which has at itsbottom end a transverse drive shaft 53 which extends across the width ofthe machine and at its upper end a stub idler shaft 54. 1

Shafts 53 and 54 carry drive and driven sprockets 56 and 57,respectively, carrying elevator chains 58, There are four chains 58, oneat each corner of the elevator station. Shafts 53 are interconnected bymeans of horizontal connecting chain 59 which interconnects sprockets 61on the right-hand ends of shafts 53. One of the shafts 53 also carries asprocket 62 which is driven from motor 63 by means of sprocket 64 onmotor shaft and chain 66. Each chain 58 has fastened thereto a lifterplate 67 which projects inwardly of the machines through a slot 68 inside 51. The inner ends of plate 67 on either side are connected byhorizontal longitudinal pallet lifting bar 69, which fits under theoutside edge of the pallet. Each plate67 has a pair of rollers which fitin grooves 70 in vertically disposed trackways 70a adjacent the path ofmovement of plate 67. Motor 63 is controlled by button 71 on control box44 and by pressing button 71 the chains 58 are'caused to move to raisethe lifter bar 69 wly downward section 106 parallel to station 103.guides 104, 106 are held a predetermined distance from and elevate thepallet until the uppermost cans contact finger 72 which projectsoutwardly into the machine and is connected to switch 73 which stops themovement of chains 53 when the cans have risen to the proper height. Aseach layer of cans is stripped off the pallet by means which ishereinafter described, the pallet is raised in increments until thetopmost can contacts the fingers 72 whereupon the pallet is heldstationary until the next layer can be swept off. After all of thelayers of cans are removed from the pallet, the pallet engages areversing switch (not shown) which turns reversible motor 63 in theopposite direction and lowers the pallet to the level of the chains 31whereupon the elevator cycle is repeated. 7

The can unloading station C is located on top of the elevator station B.For such purpose, there is located extending transversely horizontallyof the machine at the front thereof a drive shaft 81, and at the rear ofthe station and upper and a lower transverse horizontal idler shafts 82,83. On either side of the machine located on shafts 81, 82, 83 are drivesprockets 84 and driven sprockets 86, 87, around which pass Chain 88 oneither side of the machine. The distance between shafts 81 and shafts8'2, 83 is greater than the length of the pallet 11. Shaft 81 is drivenfrom motor 91 by means of sprocket 92 on the shaft of motor 91, chain 93and sprocket 94 'on shaft 81. Motor 91 is controlled by push buttonswitch 96 on control panel box 44. Extending transversely across andinterconnecting chains 88 are sweeper bars '97. 'The function of sweeperbars 97 is to move around behind the last row of cans on the pallet 11and push the cans rearward 011 of the pallet.

Located rearwardly in the machine is a lower guide plate101 whichextends horizontally for a short distance beyond the elevator station'B'in a stretch indicatedby reference numeral 101, and then curved at aradial section 102 and then merges into a vertically downwardly disposedsection 103. Substantially parallel to the aforementioned plate is anupper guide plate 104 which has an' upper radial section 104 generallyparallel to section 102 and'spaced therefrom a distance equal to theheight of the can being handled, and then merges into a vertical Theguide 102, 103 by means of adjustable bracket arms 107 having threadedportion 108 and nuts 109 thereon. By moving the nuts 109 along thethreaded portions 108, the distance of member 104, 106 from member 102,103 may be adjusted to accommodate different can heights.

The entire can guide system is termed a cascade 111 which guides thecans as they are pushed off the pallet, first horizontally rearwardlyand then turns them to a position where the axes are horizontal insteadof vertical and extend longitudinally of the machine. Upper and lowerrods 112, 113 on either end of the cascade 111 engage the cans on eitherside of the pallet layer and prevent the cans from escaping from thecascade. The cascade portion is supported by horizontal arms 114 whichextend rearwardly from rearmost legs 22 and are supported by legs 27.

At the bottom of cascade 111 is a horizontal belt 116 which passesaround drive pulley 117 and idler pulley 118. The axes of pulleys 117and 118 are horizontal and extend longitudinally of the machine, thedrive pulley 17 being on the left-hand side immediately beneath thecascade 111 and the driven pulley 118 on the right-hand side. Pulley 117is driven from electric motor 119 through belt 121. Thus, the cans whenthey reach the bottom of the layer. 111 come in contact with belt 116which moves the cans toward the side of the machine where they arepicked up by a takeaway conveyor 126, can elevator (not shown) or otherconveyor.

In operation, pallets are deposited at the front of the machine on topof chains 31, as indicated in the pallet loading zone reference numeral46. When the prior pallet has been emptied, the operator presses button43 which moves'the previous pallet out toward the rear of the machinewhere it is discharged and moves the full pallet toward the elevatorstation B. When the pallet is in proper position, the chains 31 arestopped. Thereupon, the operator pushes button 71 which causes thelifter member 67 on chains 58 to raise the pallet until the uppermostcan'contacts the switch finger 72 which stops movement-of the pallet.

T hereupon, the operator presses button 96 which causes sweeper bars 97to sweep the top layer of cans rearwardly of the machine onto thecascade 111 whence they slide down to the bottom and come in contactwith belt 116 and are moved sidewards of the machine and thence awayfrom the machine. After the top layer of cans has been swept from thepallet, an automatic relay circuit and limit switches not hereinillustrated but which will be understood by one skilled in the art stopsthe chains 88 and causes the pallet to be raised until the next layer ofcans contacts finger 72. Thereupon, chains 88 are again started and thenext sweeper bar 97 sweeps the second layer of cans off the pallet. Theseparators 16 between the layers of cans are lifted away as each layerof cans is swept off the pallet and from time to time the collection ofseparators may be removed by the operator for return to the can factoryand subsequent use.

What is claimed is:

In a can depalletizing machine, an elevator to raise vertically a palletof cans having their axes vertical, comprising a plurality of verticaltrackways on opposite sides of said machine, said trackways being formedwith grooves extending vertically the height of said elevator, aplurality of plates, at least two rollers connected to each said plateand sliding in said grooves in one of said trackways, horizontal memberson each side of said ma chine fixed to the inner ends of at least twosaid plates, said horizontal members being positioned to engage underthe opposite outer edges of said pallet, first means for raising saidplates in increments equal to the height of one can, a pusher bar,second means for moving said pusher bar horizontally across the topmostlayer of cans on said elevator, a cascade guide having top and bottomlayers spaced apart the height of 'a can and curving from a horizontalstretch adjacent the top of said elevator downwardly to below saidelevator, andelectrical control means to de-energize said first meansand energize said second means when a layer of cans has been raised bysaid elevator to the level of said horizontal stretch and to de-energizesaid second means and energize said first means when each topmost'layerof cans has been pushed into said guide by said pusher bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,004,349 6/35Schwab- 193-38 X 2,720,302 10/55 Madden 19338 X 2,729,344 1/ 5 6Birchall.

2,767,863 10/56 Botley 2148.5 X 2,774,489 12/56 Guigas.

2,956,697 10/60 Madden.

2,994,444 8/61 Peterson.

3,056,515 10/ 62 Anderson.

3,107,794 10/ 63 Bechtold.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. RRIS TEMI Examiner.

